Donald Trump’s policies may increase the vulnerability of the US to dangerous synthetic drug trafficking from abroad, despite the administration’s commitment to prevent fentanyl from entering the country, according to former government officials.
Trump recently imposed tariffs on Mexico, Canada, and China as a strategy to curb illicit drug flows into the US. However, Jim Crotty, the former Drug Enforcement Administration deputy chief of staff, believes this approach could backfire and render US borders more insecure. Federal funding cuts could also impact the effectiveness of US borders, while Enrique Roig, a former Department of State official, argues that such cuts may undermine the latest drug detection technology needed to combat illicit substance trafficking.
US overdose deaths decreased significantly in 2023 for the first time in decades, but Crotty acknowledges the fragile nature of this progress. The global drug supply is shifting towards highly potent synthetic substances, such as fentanyl and newly emerging nitrazenes. As these drugs are often difficult to detect, advanced technology and international cooperation are vital in the fight against drug trafficking.
Despite receiving funding from the state department, the UN Container Control Programme helps authorities around the world uncover international drug trafficking rings. Federal funding cuts have stalled the implementation of this program in Mexico, which has become a primary security concern for Trump.
However, some of Trump’s measures are seen as more symbolic than constructive. The designation of certain cartels as terrorist organizations is deemed ineffective, while other measures, such as suspending the use of military planes to deport immigrants due to the expensive cost, are considered a waste of money.
Roig suggests that cooperation with Mexico is crucial and that Trump’s aggressive stance towards China may harm progress made by the Biden administration in negotiating counternarcotics initiatives with the Chinese government.
Massive USAid cuts also threaten programs aimed at addressing the “root causes” of drug trade. Some of these programs simultaneously tackle drug smuggling and migration – as cartels involved in drug trafficking also engage in people smuggling.
Furthermore, layoffs at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Trump’s stance against government data sharing may impair the tracking of overdose deaths, leaving the situation in the dark.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/mar/08/trump-policies-drug-trade-fentanyl
